I love the month of May. More flowers are being planted and blooming. My garden is starting to peek out with early vegetables, and the rest of the garden can be planted with seeds and plants that need more warmth. The temperatures don't surprise us with random freezing, and snow (please God!) is behind us until late in the year. Marty Haugen's lyrics from Psalm 19 comes to mind, "The heavens are telling the glory of God. And all creation is shouting for joy!"
May is a month dedicated to Mary, our mother. Mary understood that her role was to follow whatever God asked of her, knowing that God's ways are not always our ways. When she was told of the conception of Jesus by the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:26-38: "And Mary said to the angel, 'How shall this be, since I have no husband?’” She didn't say to the angel that this event foretold to her couldn't happen, but instead, how could this happen? And Gabriel explained what would happen, and Mary accepted what was asked of her. Additionally, she hears of her cousin Elizabeth's pregnancy, thought also to be impossible for other reasons. Mary's visit to her cousin early in her own pregnancy brings Mary further affirmation of all that is happening to her through Elizabeth's words in Luke 1:42b-45, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Further affirmations come from Simeon and Anna.
Mary is the only person called to be the mother of our Savior. That was her unique calling. God is calling each of us to fulfill the unique plans that He has for us. We are blessed in this Cursillo movement for the accompaniment that we give to each other through our group reunions. The feedback and encouragement from our group reunion friends help us to be better equipped to hear and follow God's will.
Perhaps, due to the pandemic and the cold weather, it may not have been possible to meet in person or even at all. Now, with the warmer weather upon us, maybe we could soon be finding a place outdoors to meet and share and support and affirm each other safely. May, 2021.
Also, May is a great time to call upon our mother Mary using the prayer she gave us, the Rosary. This movement, our nation, and our world could all benefit from imitating her wholehearted desire to follow God's will. What understanding and peace that could bring!
Ultreya!
Your sister and brother in Christ,
Kathy Otermat, John Lyons